IBM SSK club!
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Black caps on an SSK: interesting!Dubsgalore wrote:The second I bought on craigslist...drove an hour there and back to meet up with this stranger and buy his SSK...was a weird experience. Nice guy but a little off. anyways he gave me a super good deal but the board is very dirty. seems to be in good condition. It did come with black caps...and I don't think they came from an M13..but I know jack about IBM so i really can't say.
- Dubsgalore
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: ESA-3000-HASRO
- Main mouse: Deathadder 2013
- Favorite switch: MX Blacks
- DT Pro Member: -
Muirium wrote: Black caps on an SSK: interesting!
upon closer inspection and after one day of use, I can say that they are from a black M13
snoopy wrote:Welcome to the club dubs!
thanks, I'm loving it so far
- E TwentyNine
- Main keyboard: AT Model F w/ Tenkeyless mod
- Main mouse: Logitech M310
- Favorite switch: Beam spring
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Those white on blacks came from an M13. You can see the notch on the H key in the picture.
(Ninja edit while I was posting I see... )
(Ninja edit while I was posting I see... )
- phosphorglow
- Location: Indianapolis - USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Model M
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Mouse
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring!
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I suppose I never actually "joined the club" - the only photo I posted here a while back was a bunch of parts. So here's my personal traveling SSK. (One-piece keys are totally awesome for sliding it into your laptop bag without worrying about caps popping off.)
(...I'm practicing my Photoshop background replacing skills. I'm getting tired of seeing my clean boring workbench in my photos. )
(...I'm practicing my Photoshop background replacing skills. I'm getting tired of seeing my clean boring workbench in my photos. )
- Compgeke
- Location: Fairfield, California, USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Model M 1391401
- Main mouse: Coolermaster Recon
- Favorite switch: IBM Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0040
My advice is pick up a couple 250W+ lights and a couple assorted pieces of heavy fabric, such as black, blue, white, etc. Being able to do manual mode is a bit useful - not sure how well the (white) Galaxy S4 does at that. Having fairly even lighting also helps when replacing the background.
- phosphorglow
- Location: Indianapolis - USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Model M
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Mouse
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring!
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Compgeke wrote:My advice is pick up a couple 250W+ lights and a couple assorted pieces of heavy fabric, such as black, blue, white, etc. Being able to do manual mode is a bit useful - not sure how well the (white) Galaxy S4 does at that. Having fairly even lighting also helps when replacing the background.
Thanks for the tips!
And thanks for reminding me that EXIF stores all sorts of fun stuff.
My DSLR is finicky as crap and way obsolete (Canon 300D!) so the S4 is a very convenient alternative.
The S4 does have manual control over the ISO, exposure compensation, and manual focus to a degree.
- Compgeke
- Location: Fairfield, California, USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Model M 1391401
- Main mouse: Coolermaster Recon
- Favorite switch: IBM Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0040
300D? I own the same camera - the 550D I've been using isn't mine. I do agree that it's not all that useful for most things thanks to the slowness and not-that-great noise - unless you're in the snow in the daylight in which case it works great. Mine loves cold weather for some reason.
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
My 350D can lord it over someone at last, at laaaast! How I have been waiting for this day!
Anyway, the trick is to pick an ISO that works – mine spends almost all its time in 400 – and to learn how to really use light. More modern cameras let you pull off fancier tricks in bad conditions, but these old guys are perfectly powerful if you can guess beforehand what will work and what needs recomposition…
Anyway, the trick is to pick an ISO that works – mine spends almost all its time in 400 – and to learn how to really use light. More modern cameras let you pull off fancier tricks in bad conditions, but these old guys are perfectly powerful if you can guess beforehand what will work and what needs recomposition…
- wheybags
- ⟆
- Location: Ireland
- Main keyboard: 87 SSK
- Main mouse: Sharkoon Fireglider Black
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0063
What happened above the pause key?phosphorglow wrote:I suppose I never actually "joined the club" - the only photo I posted here a while back was a bunch of parts. So here's my personal traveling SSK. (One-piece keys are totally awesome for sliding it into your laptop bag without worrying about caps popping off.)Spoiler:Spoiler:
(...I'm practicing my Photoshop background replacing skills. I'm getting tired of seeing my clean boring workbench in my photos. )
Also, do you have red felt over your barrel plate?
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
That'd be quite cool, naturally! But I think it's just artefacts from chroma key.
- Madhias
- BS TORPE
- Location: Wien, Austria
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: Wacom tablet
- Favorite switch: Topre and Buckelings
- DT Pro Member: 0064
- Contact:
Maybe - if the gods are in a good mood - i will join this exclusive club!
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
It must surely at least be able to outdo my nine-year-old Pentax Optio S5z many times over!Compgeke wrote:300D? I own the same camera - the 550D I've been using isn't mine. I do agree that it's not all that useful for most things thanks to the slowness and not-that-great noise - unless you're in the snow in the daylight in which case it works great. Mine loves cold weather for some reason.
- Dubsgalore
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: ESA-3000-HASRO
- Main mouse: Deathadder 2013
- Favorite switch: MX Blacks
- DT Pro Member: -
still in love with my SSK and using it everyday..
- Hypersphere
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Silenced & Lubed HHKB (Black)
- Main mouse: Logitech G403
- Favorite switch: Topre 45/55g Silenced; Various Alps; IBM Model F
- DT Pro Member: 0038
Dubsgalore, I like the depiction of your SSK in a neo film noir look. It would be even better without the harsh white light from the screen.
-
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: Model F62, IBM SSK, HHKB Hybrid
- Favorite switch: Buckling spring, Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
Here's the SSK I received today, a '91 vintage ANSI 1391472.
Great companion to my other SSK (an ISO layout UNI04C6), despite being more than 10 years older it actually feels better and more consistent thanks to the work of love of phosphorglow, who gave it a new life. Really loving it!
Sorry for the bad quality of the photo, there are more here: http://phosphorglow.net/2014/05/21/grun ... -4th-1991/
Great companion to my other SSK (an ISO layout UNI04C6), despite being more than 10 years older it actually feels better and more consistent thanks to the work of love of phosphorglow, who gave it a new life. Really loving it!
Sorry for the bad quality of the photo, there are more here: http://phosphorglow.net/2014/05/21/grun ... -4th-1991/
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Phosphor really knows what he's doing. Someday I'll save up enough for a nice one from him, too. These little guys are truly battle tested keyboards, good for the long haul.
- Madhias
- BS TORPE
- Location: Wien, Austria
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: Wacom tablet
- Favorite switch: Topre and Buckelings
- DT Pro Member: 0064
- Contact:
Better late then never! I would like to join this exclusive club too. The SSK i have got is in really good condition - as far as i can tell. I did not make that much pictures until now.
The build quality is impressive, i would have never expected that look and feel in reality as i only saw pictures and videos online until now. Also the sound of these BS switches is great, much better than the click of MX Greens or Blues (if a comparison can be made or is allowed; but the MX Greens are really a little bit similar).
Next step will be to use this bastard, and i have a feeling that this will be a daily driver. I think i will use a Teensy with Soarers converter, but i am not really sure. Otherwise to use an original cable is nice, so i have to think of.
There is the ESC key missing, and on it's place there's a strange cap with a skull
The build quality is impressive, i would have never expected that look and feel in reality as i only saw pictures and videos online until now. Also the sound of these BS switches is great, much better than the click of MX Greens or Blues (if a comparison can be made or is allowed; but the MX Greens are really a little bit similar).
Next step will be to use this bastard, and i have a feeling that this will be a daily driver. I think i will use a Teensy with Soarers converter, but i am not really sure. Otherwise to use an original cable is nice, so i have to think of.
There is the ESC key missing, and on it's place there's a strange cap with a skull
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Nice picture. I like that you didn't make it all about the little red guy! He stands out well enough deep in bokeh.
I'm half way through writing up a how to guide for building an external Soarer box. That way you can use your original cable, as I do.
I'm half way through writing up a how to guide for building an external Soarer box. That way you can use your original cable, as I do.
- Madhias
- BS TORPE
- Location: Wien, Austria
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: Wacom tablet
- Favorite switch: Topre and Buckelings
- DT Pro Member: 0064
- Contact:
I think i saw already your project, but maybe i'm mixing up something! That would be really great, because i do not really want to "destroy" the original look. This is not a keyboard which i would take to work and back home riding my bicycle every day. Much too heavy. So i would not attach and detach cables all the time.
The red little guy is like the tip of the iceberg, the cream topping. I wanted to buy a SSK, and sometimes get a special artisan cap. This was like killing two birds with a stone, the price with shipping nice, a good offer in my opinion. Also it's my birthday present to myself...
The red little guy is like the tip of the iceberg, the cream topping. I wanted to buy a SSK, and sometimes get a special artisan cap. This was like killing two birds with a stone, the price with shipping nice, a good offer in my opinion. Also it's my birthday present to myself...
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
The SSK is definitely one of those landmark boards. I made my converter box last year and I've been using it daily since then. Just haven't gotten around to documenting it properly until now. Recommended piece of kit especially if you have several classic boards you want to use without modification.
- Hypersphere
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Silenced & Lubed HHKB (Black)
- Main mouse: Logitech G403
- Favorite switch: Topre 45/55g Silenced; Various Alps; IBM Model F
- DT Pro Member: 0038
We are eagerly awaiting your illustrated guide to building a switchable converter box! Will you be posting this as a new thread?Muirium wrote:The SSK is definitely one of those landmark boards. I made my converter box last year and I've been using it daily since then. Just haven't gotten around to documenting it properly until now. Recommended piece of kit especially if you have several classic boards you want to use without modification.
- Dubsgalore
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: ESA-3000-HASRO
- Main mouse: Deathadder 2013
- Favorite switch: MX Blacks
- DT Pro Member: -
Nice Madhias! How's it feel?
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Yes, in the Workshop. But first I have some Photoshop to do to choose and trim the pictures so they'll fit. Also need to make a diagram for the rotary switch. But I'm guessing not everyone needs to make a multi mode box like I did. Way simpler without.Hypersphere wrote:Will you be posting this as a new thread?
- HAL
- Location: Vienna, Austria
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F (Unsaver)
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Laser / MX 518
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0025
- Contact:
Have a great weekend everyone
- Attachments
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- This shot cost me about € 2000 (ebay, shipping, customs)
- 4_SSK_1024x576.jpg (129.62 KiB) Viewed 7836 times
- Madhias
- BS TORPE
- Location: Wien, Austria
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: Wacom tablet
- Favorite switch: Topre and Buckelings
- DT Pro Member: 0064
- Contact:
The dark grey one arrived already? That was fast!
[EDIT] How much was the customs fee? I've also ordered another SSK at ebay, which is already on it's way.
You definitely have to make a proper picture of these beauties If you need a good camera, i could help!
[EDIT] How much was the customs fee? I've also ordered another SSK at ebay, which is already on it's way.
You definitely have to make a proper picture of these beauties If you need a good camera, i could help!
- HAL
- Location: Vienna, Austria
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F (Unsaver)
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Laser / MX 518
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0025
- Contact:
I was surprised usually it takes about a month. Customs fee was 224 €madhias wrote: ↑The dark grey one arrived already? That was fast!
[EDIT] How much was the customs fee? I've also ordered another SSK at ebay, which is already on it's way.
Thanks a lot. It is not the camera. I try to take all my keyboard pictures with natural light. And I have not quite mastered the low light scenarios (yet).madhias wrote: ↑If you need a good camera, i could help!
- Attachments
-
- 1395682, after cleaning
- IBM_Model_M_industrial_SSK_1395682_1993-01-07_front_1024x576.jpg (114.15 KiB) Viewed 7793 times
- Madhias
- BS TORPE
- Location: Wien, Austria
- Main keyboard: HHKB
- Main mouse: Wacom tablet
- Favorite switch: Topre and Buckelings
- DT Pro Member: 0064
- Contact:
Low light is always nice, i didn't want to criticize, the 4 SSK image just looks a little bit too soft for my taste (maybe because the focus is on the IBM patches). The dark and kind of evil lightning is just great for an image like that.HAL wrote: ↑Thanks a lot. It is not the camera. I try to take all my keyboard pictures with natural light. And I have not quite mastered the low light scenarios (yet).
BTW, I also wanted to make a "my son and me doing keyboard stuff..." image, which ended up in a great yelling and chaos. In the back is my SSK waiting to be finished, to be connected all the time with USB.
Spoiler:
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
Same here for natural light. Fake stuff just doesn't work right, to my eye. At least not without an enormous effort that I can't be bothered learning. Patience, and the right light will come naturally.
Moody, shadowy shots can work well with a tripod (so you can try multiple takes with different apertures) and a levels boost in your editor at the end. I set my old camera to underexpose by one full stop anyway, as its metering is bad, so boosting levels is as natural as cropping in my workflow. Can work wonders, and it's not even cheating!
Moody, shadowy shots can work well with a tripod (so you can try multiple takes with different apertures) and a levels boost in your editor at the end. I set my old camera to underexpose by one full stop anyway, as its metering is bad, so boosting levels is as natural as cropping in my workflow. Can work wonders, and it's not even cheating!